A CHESTER woman is using her experience in the arts to help raise sponsorship for her first marathon attempt.

Claire Smith, Cheshire’s rural touring arts officer, is bringing Humphrey Littleton’s jazz protégée Louise Parker to the city for a concert to raise cash for the Hospice of the Good Shepherd, the charity she is running for in this year’s Virgin London Marathon.

Mum-of-two Claire, of Queen’s Park, has been running seriously for about six years and wanted to do the marathon before her knees ‘give out’.

“If I don’t do it now I never will!” said Claire, who has run the Chester half marathon six times.

“I really enjoy training. It gets me away from the kids, the domestic chores and work.

“I never run with an iPod – I just enjoy the peace and quiet.”

Claire hopes to finish the marathon in about four and a half hours and is working hard to build up her stamina.

Her mum and dad, who live in Kent, will be in the capital to support her on Sunday, April 25, as will husband Mike and elder son Alex.

“My younger son Wilf has a rugby match on the same day, so he has decided that is more important!”

Claire hopes to raise at least £1,500 for the hospice and is already nearly halfway there.

“I wanted to run for a local cause and a friend of mine, who is on the board at the hospice, told me about the good work it does. I was amazed to hear that hospices receive no public subsidy and they offer a really good service.”

Louise Parker is at The Guildhall, Chester, on Friday, March 19, at 8pm. Tickets, including a light supper, are £20 and available from 07720 032546 or by emailing mikenclaires@aol.com.